Brake



Oct. 3, 1939. G. c. R. KUIPER BRAKE Filed Aug. 29, 1936 ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 3, 1939 PATENT OFFICE BRAKE Gerhard C. R. Kuiper,

Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Midland Steel Products Company,Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 29, 1936,Serial No. 98,550

3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in vehicle brakesand more particularly to a brake unit for automotive trailer vehicles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of apower cylinder substantially normal to and intermediate a pair of wheelbrakes disposed on opposite sides of the vehicle to make for arelatively short length of power transmitting means between the powercylinder and the wheel brakes.

A further object is to provide a vehicle brake wherein the cable foroperating the brake expanding means is arranged to lie substantiallynormal throughout its length to the brake apron.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of thepower cylinder, power lever and power transmitting means all supportedon the axle of the vehicle as a unit.

A further object of the invention is to provide a unit including anaxle, wheel spindles, power cylinder, brake rods and wheel brakes,whereby the brakes may be finally adjusted prior to assembling the uniton to the vehicle.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentduring the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of the description andwherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughoutthe several views:

Fig. l is a top plan view of the invention, and

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the same.

The present embodiment of the invention comprises an axle tube I boltedto the trailer springs I5I as shown at I52 and has brackets I53 at itsopposite ends, each formed of a single piece of metal having a portionI54 extending laterally of the axle I50 and provided with an apertureI55 whereby each can be slid along the axle I50 to points determined bythe width of the vehicle. After the brackets I53 are adjusted along theaxle tube I 50 to points adapting the axle to any desired width oftrailer, they are Welded to the axle I50 by annular welds indicatedat'l56. Each bracket I53 terminates in a wheel spindle I58 forsupporting the trailer wheels I59 and the brake aprons I60. Rigidlymounted on the axle I50 intermediate the ends thereof is an invertedchannel bracket I6I which has its edges are welded to the axle andcarries a pin I62 pivotally supporting a lever I63 intermediate itsends. One extreme end I64 of the lever I63 is pivotally connected to alongitudinally adjustable brake rod I65 extending through one of thebrake aprons I for connection to the wheel brake mechanism not shown.Another adjustable brake rod I61 is similarly connected to the otherwheel brake mechanism in the opposite trailer wheel and is pivoted tothe lever I63, as indicated at I68, at a point short of the end I69 ofthe lever I63. The length of the brake rods I and I61 are adjusted bymeans of their adjustable connections I49 to the lever I63. Swingingmovement of the lever I63 in both directions, is limited by stopssecured to the bracket I6I on opposite sides of the lever, as shown inFig. l.

A power cylinder I10 is pivotally carried by the axle I50 by means of arod I1I pivotally attached to the cylinder I10 and to a U-shaped bracketI12 rigidly secured to the axle I50. Reciprocally mounted in the powercylinder 1 10 is a piston I13 having a piston rod I14, the exposed endof which is pivotally connected to the lever I 63 by connection with anyone of the holes I15 in the lever I63. The hole I15 selected for theconnection of the piston rod I14 depends upon the leverage desired to beapplied to the brake rods I65 and I61 by the proper piston I13. Theopposite sides of the piston I13 are normally exposed to atmosphere bymeans of a breather I at one end of the power cylinder and through aconduit IBI adapted to be connected to an operator controlled valve on atractor, as for example the valve 25 having an atmospheric port 26 and aport connection 21 with the intake manifold, and which valve causesevacuation of the cylinder on one side of the piston I15 when the valveis moved to one position to apply the brakes on the tractor, and whichopens this side of the piston to atmospheric pressure when moved toanother position for releasing the tractor brakes.

Prior to installing this braking and axle unit in the trailer, thebrackets I53 are welded to the axle tube I50 at the desired points, theaprons I60 mounted on the spindles I58, the wheel brakes are secured tothe aprons I60, and the brake rods are connected to the Wheel brakemechanism and to the lever I63 mounted on the axle I50 and are thenadjusted lengthwise as the wheel brake mechanisms are brought to finaladjustments. These assembled parts are then mounted as a unitaryassembly on the trailer, and the trailer wheels are mounted on thespindles and the conduit I 8| connected to the control valve. The entiremechanism being finally adjusted prior to assembly on the trailer, needsno further adjustment after the assembly has been mounted on thetrailer.

In order to operate the trailer brakes the operator moves the controlvalve to brake applied position to connect the conduit [8| with a sourceof suction, for example, the tractor engine manifold, whereby the pistonI13 is subjected to differential pressures and moves to the left asviewed in Fig. 1. This movement of the piston causes the lever I63 torotate clockwise and pull the brake rods therewith to apply the trailerbrakes. When it is desired to release the trailer brakes the operatormanipulates the control valve on the tractor to connect the conduit l8lwith atmosphere to suspend the piston I13 in air, whereby the usualsprings in the wheel brakes efiect return of the brake rods and pistonto brake release position.

This embodiment is of particular advantage where the trailer bodies areconstructed in one plant and the axles with the brakes attached are madein another plant, since the axle and wheel brake assembly can be shippedas a unit to the trailer plant and installed as a unit on the body ofthe trailer, and when the trailer wheels are mounted on the spindles, nofactory brake adjustment need be made, the brakes being finally adjustedpriorv to assembly in the trailer. 7

It will be understood that various changes in the construction andarrangements of parts may be resorted to without departing from thescope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, a brake and axle assembly adapted to beinstalled as a unit in a vehicle, comprising a vehicle axle, wheelspindles having right angular arms adjustably mounted upon the axleprior to being Welded to opposite ends of said axle, .a brake apronsupported on each spindle, a wheel brake device carried by each apron, apower cylinder having one end pivotally mounted on said axle, a pistonin said cylinder and having a piston rod, a lever pivotally supported bysaid axle and connected to said piston rod, a pair of adjustable brakerods pivotally connected to said lever and each extending alongside saidaxle to one of said wheel brakes, said axle and the parts supportedthereby being adapted to be installed as a unit in a vehicle.

2. In a Vehicle brake system, an axle, a brake device disposed atopposite ends of said axle, a lever fulcrumed upon the top of the axleat substantially the middle thereof and having one end offset into thehorizontal plane of the axle, a power cylinder pivotally connected tothe axle to one side of the lever fulcrum and arranged in the samehorizontal plane of the axle, a piston in said cylinder having a pistonrod connected to one end of said lever, and a pair of brake membersconnected to the lever on opposite sides of the fulcrum and extendingoutwardly in opposite directions on opposite sides of the axle toconnect with the brake devices at the ends of the axle.

3. In a vehicle brake system, an axle, a brake device disposedatopposite ends of said axle, a lever fulcrumed at substantially themiddle of the axle, said lever having its power arm offset down into thehorizontal plane of the axle, a power cylinder pivotally connected tothe axle in the horizontal plane thereof to one side of the leverfulcrum, a piston in said cylinder having a piston rod connected to thepower arm of said lever, and a pair of brake members connected to thelever on opposite sides of the fulcrum and extending outwardly inopposite directions to connect with the brake devices at the ends of theaxle.

GERHARD C. R. KUIPER.

